Living Life In Him

The living Word of God, Jesus Christ, lives within me, and Scripture compels me to live my life in Him: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him” (Colossians 2:6).As rejoicing and thankfulness take root in my spirit, I will become equipped to offer my body as a living sacrifice for His sake:“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

As I ponder this, it seems the most practical thing I can do is to humbly and earnestly call upon the indwelling Spirit of God to meet me in every moment, mundane or significant, joyful or sad, peace-filled or fearful, quiet or filled with turmoil…He is God, and He lives within me! May I truly be transformed so that Your perfect will is shaped within me for the purposes of Your kingdom.Here is a prayer I can offer as a pleasing sacrifice to God who lives in me…a prayer for my every day life!

Indwelling Spirit of God, I offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You as my true and proper worship. In every moment, I long to be continually transformed as You renew my mind and focus it upon Your good, pleasing and perfect will. Teach me to be attentive to Your voice no matter what I am doing, and help me to be fully obedient to the purposes of Your heart.

Praise God as the one who again has supplied you with all you have needed this week. Thank him for putting some of his resources into your care. Confess any waste or mismanagement of those resources this week. Commit yourself to sharing with God’s people who are in need (Rom. 12:13). Ask God to bring to mind the name of someone with whom he would have you share by showing hospitality (12:13).

Pray that your children and those of your friends learn principles of Christian stewardship from an early age. Ask God to make you an excellent example for them.

–Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayerby Alvin VanderGriend(Click on the blue title for more information about this resource).